Al Wahda punish Hatta with late goals

abu dhabi — Al Wahda continued their winning run at home this League season by thrashing Hatta 3-1 to go top of the table at Al Nahyan Stadium on Thursday night.

It was an intensely fought match with as many as eight players being booked. Hatta sought to keep a winning run going and were aggressive. And early into the match, Hatta midfielder Abdullah Ali earned a yellow card for a needless push on goal-bound Balazs Dzsudzsak.

The ensuing free-kick saw Dzsudzsak-Ismail Matar duo set up opportunity for Sebastian Tagliabue but keeper Obaid Raihan managed to keep out the volley.

The home team, however, stamped their supremacy through Mourad Batna’s strike from Matar’s corner. Al Wahda had more scoring chances but Tagliabue and Matar were unlucky to miss out with clear opportunities.

There was a brief spell of play that was dominated by Hatta. And the visitors equalised through Fernando Gabriel. On a counter-attack, the Brazilian connected well on a rebound effort to make it 1-1 in 39 minutes.

The second half was absorbing affair with both sides in search of a winner. Al Wahda missed many opportunities on goal. Both side grew desperate and just minutes before the hooter Al Wahda scored. Khaled Ba Wazir drew the defence and passed to Dzsudzsak, who curled a cross for Tagliabue to head in a second goal for Al Wahda. It was riveting stuff at the end as Hatta pushed forward and Al Wahda looked to take advantage. It was Al Wahda who scored again. Substitute Mohamed Al Akbari placed the ball past keeper Raihan to shut the door on Hatta.